Pure Bending

Pure Bending

4-3

Pure Bending: Prismatic members

subjected to equal and opposite couples
acting in the same longitudinal plane

Other Loading Types

4-4

Principle of Superposition: The normal

stress due to pure bending may be
combined with the normal stress due to
axial loading and shear stress due to
shear loading to find the complete state
of stress.

Transverse Loading: Concentrated or

distributed transverse load produces
internal forces equivalent to a shear
force and a couple

Eccentric Loading: Axial loading which

does not pass through section centroid
produces internal forces equivalent to an
axial force and a couple

Mz

My

Fx

 yV x dA

V x dA 0
zV x dA 0
M
4-5

These requirements may be applied to the sums

of the components and moments of the statically
indeterminate elementary internal forces.

The moment is the same about any axis

perpendicular to the plane of the couple and
zero about any axis contained in the plane.

The sum of the components of the forces in any

direction is zero.

From statics, a couple M consists of two equal

and opposite forces.

Internal forces in any cross section are equivalent

to a couple. The moment of the couple is the
section bending moment.

Symmetric Member in Pure Bending

4-6

stresses and strains are negative (compressive)

above the neutral plane and positive (tension)
below it

a neutral surface must exist that is parallel to the

upper and lower surfaces and for which the length
does not change

length of top decreases and length of bottom

increases

cross-sectional plane passes through arc center

and remains planar

bends uniformly to form a circular arc

member remains symmetric

Beam with a plane of symmetry in pure

bending:

Bending Deformations

Strain Due to Bending

Hx

Hm

Hx

Lc

UT

yT

or

y
 Hm
c

Hm

 yT
(strain varies linearly)

 U  y T
G L  Lc  U  y T  UT

After deformation, the length of the neutral

surface remains L. At other sections,

Consider a beam segment of length L.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4-7

y
 EH m
c

y
 V m (stress varies linearly)
c

EH x

V x dA

V
 m y dA
c

First moment with respect to neutral

plane is zero. Therefore, the neutral
surface must pass through the
section centroid.

Fx

y

c V m dA

For static equilibrium,

Vx

For a linearly elastic material,

Stress Due to Bending

M
S

2
y dA

Mc
I

Vm

Vx

My
I

y
 Vm
c

V mI

V
y
dA
y



 c V m dA
x

Substituting V x

Vm

For static equilibrium,

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4-8

h2

1 bh3
12

1 bh3
6

1
6

Ah

4-9

Structural steel beams are designed to have a

large section modulus.

Between two beams with the same cross

sectional area, the beam with the greater depth
will be more effective in resisting bending.

I
c

Consider a rectangular beam cross section,

A beam section with a larger section modulus

will have a lower maximum stress

Vm

Mc M
I
S
I section moment of inertia
I
S
section modulus
c

The maximum normal stress due to bending,

Beam Section Properties

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Properties of American Standard Shapes

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4 - 10

Vm
Ec

Hm
c
M
EI

1 Mc
Ec I

QH x

Qy
U

Hz

QH x

Qy
U

1
Uc

Q
U

anticlastic curvature

4 - 11

Expansion above the neutral surface and

contraction below it cause an in-plane curvature,

Hy

Although cross sectional planes remain planar

when subjected to bending moments, in-plane
deformations are nonzero,

Deformation due to bending moment M is

quantified by the curvature of the neutral surface

Deformations in a Transverse Cross Section

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

A cast-iron machine part is acted upon

by a 3 kN-m couple. Knowing E = 165
GPa and neglecting the effects of
fillets, determine (a) the maximum
tensile and compressive stresses, (b)
the radius of curvature.

Sample Problem 4.2

yA
A
I xc

2
I  Ad

Mc
I

M
EI

Calculate the curvature

Vm

4 - 12

Apply the elastic flexural formula to

find the maximum tensile and
compressive stresses.

Based on the cross section geometry,

calculate the location of the section
centroid and moment of inertia.

SOLUTION:

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Sample Problem 4.2

I xc

yA, mm3
90 u103
24 u103
3
yA 114 u10

868 u 103 mm 868 u10-9 m 4

4 - 13

 121 bh3  A d 2 
121 90 u 203  1800 u122  121 30 u 403  1200 u182 

38 mm

y , mm
50
20

114 u103
3000

2
I  Ad

yA
A

Area, mm 2
1 20 u 90 1800
2 40 u 30 1200
A 3000

Based on the cross section geometry, calculate

the location of the section centroid and
moment of inertia.

SOLUTION:

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Sample Problem 4.2

Mc
I
M c A 3 kN m u 0.022 m
I
868 u109 mm 4
M cB
3 kN m u 0.038 m


I
868 u109 mm 4

3 kN m

165 GPa 868 u10-9 m 4 

M
EI

Calculate the curvature

VB

VA

Vm

U
U

131.3 MPa

VB

47.7 m

4 - 14

20.95 u103 m -1

76.0 MPa

VA

Apply the elastic flexural formula to find the

maximum tensile and compressive stresses.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

My
I

V1 V x

Vx

V2

nV x

E1H x

Ey
 1

V2

E2H x

E y
 2

E1 y

dF2

nE1  y dA

V 1dA 

dA dF2

V 2 dA 

E2 y

Ey
 1 n dA

dA

4 - 15

E2
E1

Define a transformed section such that

dF1

Elemental forces on the section are

Neutral axis does not pass through

section centroid of composite section.

V1

Piecewise linear normal stress variation.

Hx

Normal strain varies linearly.

Consider a composite beam formed from

two materials with E1 and E2.

Bending of Members Made of Several Materials

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Bar is made from bonded pieces of

steel (Es = 29x106 psi) and brass
(Eb = 15x106 psi). Determine the
maximum stress in the steel and
brass when a moment of 40 kip*in
is applied.

Example 4.03

4 - 16

Determine the maximum stress in the

steel portion of the bar by multiplying
the maximum stress for the transformed
section by the ratio of the moduli of
elasticity.

Calculate the maximum stress in the

transformed section. This is the correct
maximum stress for the brass pieces of
the bar.

Evaluate the cross sectional properties of

the transformed section

Transform the bar to an equivalent cross

section made entirely of brass

SOLUTION:

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Example 4.03

1.933

15 u 10 psi
0.4 in  1.933 u 0.75 in  0.4 in

29 u 106 psi

2.25 in

5.063 in 4

1 b h3
12 T

1 2.25 in.3 in 3
12

Mc
I

V b max
V s max

11.85 ksi

1.933 u11.85 ksi

5.063 in

40 kip in 1.5 in 

V b max V m
V s max nV m

Vm

Calculate the maximum stresses

4 - 17

22.9 ksi

11.85 ksi

Evaluate the transformed cross sectional properties

bT

Es
Eb

Transform the bar to an equivalent cross section

made entirely of brass.

SOLUTION:

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

 n As x  n As d

0
0

Vx

Vx
Vc

My
I

Vs

nV x

The normal stress in the concrete and steel

1 b x2
2

bx  x  n As d  x 

To determine the location of the neutral axis,

4 - 18

In the transformed section, the cross sectional area

of the steel, As, is replaced by the equivalent area
nAs where n = Es/Ec.

The steel rods carry the entire tensile load below

the neutral surface. The upper part of the
concrete beam carries the compressive load.

Concrete beams subjected to bending moments are

reinforced by steel rods.

Reinforced Concrete Beams

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

 Calculate the maximum stresses

in the concrete and steel.

Evaluate geometric properties of

transformed section.

4 - 19

Transform to a section made entirely

of concrete.

SOLUTION:

A concrete floor slab is reinforced with

5/8-in-diameter steel rods. The modulus
of elasticity is 29x106psi for steel and
3.6x106psi for concrete. With an applied
bending moment of 40 kip*in for 1-ft
width of the slab, determine the maximum
stress in the concrete and steel.

Sample Problem 4.4

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4.95 in 2

8.06

2
8.06 u 2 S4 85 in

3.6 u10 psi

29 u106 psi

1 12 in 1.45 in 3 
3

4.95 in 2 2.55 in 2

x 1.450 in

Vs

Vc

Mc2
I

Mc1
I

44.4 in
40 kip in u 2.55 in
8.06
44.4 in 4

40 kip in u 1.45 in

Calculate the maximum stresses.

x
12 x  4.954  x  0
2

Vs

4 - 20

18.52 ksi

1.306 ksi

44.4 in 4

Vc

Evaluate the geometric properties of the

transformed section.

nAs

Es
Ec

Transform to a section made entirely of concrete.

SOLUTION:

Sample Problem 4.4

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

 in the vicinity of abrupt changes

in cross section

in the vicinity of points where the

loads are applied

Stress concentrations may occur:

Stress Concentrations

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Vm

Mc
I

4 - 21

y
 Hm
c

strain varies linearly across the section

My
I

V x dA
0

 yV x dA

4 - 22

For a member with vertical and horizontal planes of

symmetry and a material with the same tensile and
compressive stress-strain relationship, the neutral
axis is located at the section centroid and the stressstrain relationship may be used to map the strain
distribution from the stress distribution.

Fx

For a material with a nonlinear stress-strain curve,

the neutral axis location is found by satisfying

and

Vx

If the member is made of a linearly elastic material,

the neutral axis passes through the section centroid

Hx

For any member subjected to pure bending

Plastic Deformations

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

MU c
I

4 - 23

RB may be used to determine MU of any member

made of the same material and with the same
cross sectional shape but different dimensions.

RB

The modulus of rupture in bending, RB, is found

from an experimentally determined value of MU
and a fictitious linear stress distribution.

When the maximum stress is equal to the ultimate

strength of the material, failure occurs and the
corresponding moment MU is referred to as the
ultimate bending moment.

Plastic Deformations

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

MY

Vm

I
VY
c

Mc
I
maximum elastic moment

yY

elastic core half - thickness

Mp

MY

Mp

plastic moment

4 - 24

shape factor (depends only on cross section shape)

3M
2 Y

In the limit as the moment is increased further, the

elastic core thickness goes to zero, corresponding to a
fully plastic deformation.

3 M 1  1 yY
2 Y
3 2

If the moment is increased beyond the maximum

elastic moment, plastic zones develop around an
elastic core.

VY

Vm

V x d VY

Rectangular beam made of an elastoplastic material

Members Made of an Elastoplastic Material

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

A2V Y

R2

Mp

12 AV Y d

The plastic moment for the member,

4 - 25

The neutral axis divides the section into equal

areas.

A1V Y

R1

Resultants R1 and R2 of the elementary

compressive and tensile forces form a couple.

The neutral axis cannot be assumed to pass

through the section centroid.

Fully plastic deformation of a beam with only a

vertical plane of symmetry.

Plastic Deformations of Members With a

Single Plane of Symmetry

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Residual Stresses

The final value of stress at a point will not, in

general, be zero.
4 - 26

Residual stresses are obtained by applying the

principle of superposition to combine the stresses
due to loading with a moment M (elastoplastic
deformation) and unloading with a moment -M
(elastic deformation).

Since the linear relation between normal stress and

strain applies at all points during the unloading
phase, it may be handled by assuming the member
to be fully elastic.

Plastic zones develop in a member made of an

elastoplastic material if the bending moment is
large enough.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4 - 27

After the loading has been reduced back to zero,

determine (c) the distribution of residual stresses,
(d) radius of curvature.

Determine (a) the thickness of the elastic core, (b)

the radius of curvature of the neutral surface.

A member of uniform rectangular cross section is

subjected to a bending moment M = 36.8 kN-m.
The member is made of an elastoplastic material
with a yield strength of 240 MPa and a modulus
of elasticity of 200 GPa.

Example 4.05, 4.06

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

MY

I
c

2
3

I
V Y 120 u10 6 m3 240 MPa 
c
28.8 kN m

50 u103 m60 u103 m

120 u10 6 m3

2 bc 2
3

Maximum elastic moment:

Example 4.05, 4.06

yY
60 mm

HY

HY

0.666

200 u109 Pa
E

HY

yY

1.2 u103

40 u103 m

1.2 u 103
yY

240 u 106 Pa

VY

2 yY

3 28.8 kN m 1  1 yY
2
3 2

Radius of curvature:

yY
c

36.8 kN m

3 M 1  1 yY
2 Y
3 2

Thickness of elastic core:

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4 - 28

33.3 m

80 mm

40 mm

240 MPa

yY

VY

M = 36.8 kN-m
c
Vm

Mc 36.8 kN m
I
120 u 106 m3
306.7 MPa  2V Y

M = -36.8 kN-m

Example 4.05, 4.06

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Hx

200 u 109 Pa
E

Hx

yY

4 - 29

225 m

177.5 u10  6

40 u 103 m

177.5 u 10 6

 35.5 u 106 Pa

Vx

At the edge of the elastic core,

M=0

F
M

P
Pd

Eccentric loading

P My

A I

V x centric  V x bending

4 - 30

Validity requires stresses below proportional

limit, deformations have negligible effect on
geometry, and stresses not evaluated near points
of load application.

Vx

Stress due to eccentric loading found by

superposing the uniform stress due to a centric
load and linear stress distribution due a pure
bending moment

Eccentric Axial Loading in a Plane of Symmetry

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

 Evaluate the maximum tensile and

compressive stresses at the inner
and outer edges, respectively, of the
superposed stress distribution.

Superpose the uniform stress due to

the centric load and the linear stress
due to the bending moment.

Find the equivalent centric load and

bending moment

SOLUTION:

Beer Johnston DeWolf

4 - 31

An open-link chain is obtained by

bending low-carbon steel rods into the
shape shown. For 160 lb load, determine Find the neutral axis by determining
the location where the normal stress
(a) maximum tensile and compressive
is zero.
stresses, (b) distance between section
centroid and neutral axis

Example 4.07

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

P 160 lb
M Pd 160 lb 0.6 in 
104 lb in

Equivalent centric load

and bending moment

Example 4.07

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

815 psi

Vm

1 S 0.254
4
3 4

8475 psi

4 - 32

3.068 u10 in
Mc 104 lb in 0.25 in 
I
.068 u103 in 4

1 Sc 4
4

Normal stress due to

bending moment

V0

S 0.25 in 2

0.1963 in 2
P
160 lb
A 0.1963 in 2

A Sc 2

Normal stress due to a

centric load

815  8475
V 0 V m

Vc

815  8475

V0 Vm

Vt

Vc

Vt
7660 psi

9260 psi

Maximum tensile and compressive

stresses

Example 4.07

y0

y0

4 - 33

3.068 u103 in 4
815 psi 
105 lb in
0.0240 in

P I
AM

P My0

A
I

Neutral axis location

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

3 u103 m 2

0.038 m

868 u10 9 m 4

From Sample Problem 2.4,

Sample Problem 4.8

4 - 34

The largest allowable load is the smallest

of the two critical loads.

Evaluate the critical loads for the allowable

tensile and compressive stresses.

Superpose the stress due to a centric

load and the stress due to bending.

Determine an equivalent centric load and

bending moment.

SOLUTION:

The largest allowable stresses for the cast

iron link are 30 MPa in tension and 120
MPa in compression. Determine the largest
force P which can be applied to the link.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

P Mc A

A
I
P Mc A
 
A
I




3 u10

3 u10
P

3


3

868 u10

9

868 u10
0.028 P 0.022

9

0.028 P 0.022

1559 P

377 P

1559 P

VB

120 MPa

30 MPa

The largest allowable load

377 P

VA

79.6 kN

79.6 kN

4 - 35

77.0 kN

Evaluate critical loads for allowable stresses.

VB

VA

Superpose stresses due to centric and bending loads

d 0.038  0.010 0.028 m

P centric load
M Pd 0.028 P bending moment

Determine an equivalent centric and bending loads.

Sample Problem 4.8

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Unsymmetric Bending

4 - 36

In general, the neutral axis of the section will

not coincide with the axis of the couple.

Cannot assume that the member will bend

in the plane of the couples.

Will now consider situations in which the

bending couples do not act in a plane of
symmetry.

The neutral axis of the cross section

coincides with the axis of the couple

Members remain symmetric and bend in

the plane of symmetry.

Analysis of pure bending has been limited

to members subjected to bending couples
acting in a plane of symmetry.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Fx

0 M y Mz

applied couple

The resultant force and moment

from the distribution of
elementary forces in the section
must satisfy

Wish to determine the conditions under

which the neutral axis of a cross section
of arbitrary shape coincides with the
axis of the couple as shown.

Unsymmetric Bending
y dA

y
c

dA

V
V

m dA

 y  V m dA

c
m I
I I z moment of inertia
c

Mz

yz dA

z  V m dA
c

I yz product of inertia
zV x dA

4 - 37

couple vector must be directed along

a principal centroidal axis

or 0

0 My

defines stress distribution

or M

neutral axis passes through centroid

or 0

0 Fx

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

M cosT
My

M sin T

tan I

Vx
0
y
z

Iz
tan T
Iy

Mzy Myy


Iy
Iz

Along the neutral axis,

Vx

Mzy Myy


Iz
Iy

Iz

Iy

4 - 38

M cosT  y  M sin T  y

Superpose the component stress distributions

Mz

Resolve the couple vector into components along

the principle centroidal axes.

Superposition is applied to determine stresses in

the most general case of unsymmetric bending.

Unsymmetric Bending

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

M cosT

My

M sin T

Vx

Mzy Myy


Iz
Iy

Combine the stresses from the

component stress distributions.

Mz

Resolve the couple vector into

components along the principle
centroidal axes and calculate the
corresponding maximum stresses.

SOLUTION:

4 - 39

A 1600 lb-in couple is applied to a

rectangular wooden beam in a plane
Determine the angle of the neutral
forming an angle of 30 deg. with the
axis.
vertical. Determine (a) the maximum
y Iz
tan
I
tan T
stress in the beam, (b) the angle that the
z Iy
neutral axis forms with the horizontal
plane.

Example 4.08

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Example 4.08

1 1.5 in 3.5 in 3
12
1 3.5 in 1.5 in 3
12

1600 lb in  cos 30
1600 lb in sin 30
0.9844 in 4

5.359 in 4

800 lb in

1386 lb in

Mzy
Iz
5.359 in

1386 lb in 1.75 in 

452.6 psi

Iy

0.9844 in

800 lb in 0.75 in 

609.5 psi

V max

V1  V 2

452.6  609.5

V max

4 - 40

1062 psi

The largest tensile stress due to the combined loading

occurs at A.

V2

M yz

The largest tensile stress due to M z occurs along AD

V1

The largest tensile stress due to M z occurs along AB

Iy

Iz

My

Mz

Resolve the couple vector into components and calculate

the corresponding maximum stresses.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

Example 4.08

3.143
72.4o

tan I

Iz
tan T
Iy
0.9844 in

5.359 in 4
tan 30

Determine the angle of the neutral axis.

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS

4 - 41

Pa

Mz

centric force
Pb

My
Mz
y
z
Iz
Iy

P
A
4 - 42

If the neutral axis lies on the section, it may

be found from

Vx

P M z y M yz


A
Iz
Iy

By the principle of superposition, the

combined stress distribution is

My

The eccentric force is equivalent to the system

of a centric force and two couples.

Consider a straight member subject to equal

and opposite eccentric forces.

General Case of Eccentric Axial Loading

MECHANICS OF MATERIALS